Apparatus for setting up folded cartons



Sepia 23, P355 5:1 DQLLHEIMER 3,2?3Aiii APFARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDED GARFONS Filed 21, 1 254 I Sheeis-$2wei 1 INV N'FOR. FRANZ DOLLHEIMER ATTORNEYS p 20, 1966 F. DOLLHEIMER APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDED CARTONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 INVENTOR.

FRANZ DOLLHEIMER A TTORNEY Sept. 20, 1966 F. DOLLHEIMER 3,273,471

APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDED CARTONS Filed Jan. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS INVENTOK FRANZ DOLLHEIMER A TTORNE Y;

Sept. 20, 1966 F. DOLLHEIMER 3,273,471

APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDED CARTONS Filed Jan. 21, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

FRANZ DOLLHEIMER A TTORNEYS' United States Patent 3,273,471 APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP FOLDED CARTONS Franz Dollheimer, Valdosta, Ga., assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,291 6 Claims. (Cl. 93-53) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for setting up, or expanding cartons of paper board and the like from a folded or flattened condition and placing them in position to be loaded with articles. The invention is particularly concerned with packaging a plurality of canned or bottled articles in a convenient package, such as the type of package commonly referred to as sixpacks.

An object of this invention is to provide an eflicient apparatus for erecting open-ended cantons from a flattened or collapsed condition to their final erect form for receiving articles.

Still another object is to provide improved apparatus for sequentially removing flattened cartons from a magazine containing a stack of the flattened cartons and trans ferring them to a loading station where the cartons are thereafter expanded to their erect form to be loaded with the articles.

A further object lies in the provision of apparatus for sequentially feeding individual flattened cartons from a magazine containing a stack of the collapsed cartons to a carton expanding and loading station, and thereafter expanding the cartons to their final erect form for receiving articles to be packaged in the cartons at an output rate commensurate with present day production requirement.

In achievement of the foregoing and other objects, a stack of the flattened cartons are placed in a magazine having a discharge end in which is exposed a portion of one side of the lowermost flattened carton. For successively removing the cartons from the magazine, a feed lever mounted at one end on a rotatable shaft carries a suction head on its free end, and rotates about the axis of the shaft between a feed position and a loading position. In the feed position, the suction head engages the exposed side of the flattened carton at the discharge end of the magazine adjacent one end of the carton and is carried by the lever to a carton expanding and loading station as the feed lever moves to its loading position. When the feed lever reaches it loading position with a carton supported on the suction head, a second suction head mounted on parallel links for movement parallel to the flattened carton is actuated to engage the opposite side of the flattened carton from the first suction head, and adjacent the opposite end of the flattened carton, and is thereafter actuated to move in parallel relation with the first suction head to a position in spaced, opposed relationship with the first suction head, which movement expands the carton.

Other features, objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 through 7 are elevational views with some of the parts shown in section, of apparatus embodying the invention and illustrating the position of the various parts in successive steps in the sequence of operation;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view schematically illustrating a drive arrangement for the feed lever; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional detailed view showing the internal construction of the suction heads.

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 7, reference numeral 10 designates a supporting partition or wall which is formed with a rectangular slot 12. Slot 12 defines a carton expanding and loading station. Mounted adjacent the upper left corner of partition 10 on suitable supporting structure (not shown) is a hopper or magazine 14 containing a supply of flattened or folded cartons C. The

illustrated machine embodying the invention is particularly adapted to, although not limited to, the packaging of a single row of up to six cans or bottles within an openended, sleeve-like wrapper or carton C. The walls of the cartons are scored such that the shape of the erect carton or wrapper will conform generally to the outer contour of the bottles or cans. In FIG. 6, carton C is foldable into a collapsed form in which the inner surface of the bottom panel or wall as well as a portion of the right side panel lie against the inner surface of the left side panel. Accordingly, when the folded or collapsed carton is expanded, the bottom panel pivots approximately degrees about the lower left-hand corner of the carton in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6.

The delivery end of magazine 14 is partially closed by a plate or panel member 16 supported at one end on a rod 18. Consequently, the right end of the lower side of the bottom flattened carton C is exposed at the discharge end of the magazine.

For successively removing and transferring cartons from magazine 14 to the loading station defined at slot 12, a feed lever 22 is mounted at one end on a rotatable shaft 20, the axis of which extends perpendicularly to the plane defined by partition 10. Lever 22 is caused to oscillate between a feed position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the outer end of feed lever 22 is disposed adjacent the discharge end of the magazine, and a loading position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 through '7 in which the free end of lever 22 is disposed adjacent the loading station conventional means such as a rack and pinion 19 and 21, respectively (FIG. 8). Cartons are removed from the magazine and supported at the loading station by means of a suction head 24 mounted on the end of feed lever 22.

With reference to FIG. 9, suction head 24 is mounted on an extension 23 formed at the free, outer end of feed lever 22 by means of a pin 25 which extends through extension 23 and a leg portion 27 formed on suction head 24. Pin 25 preferably engages .a slot in leg 27 to permit limited relative movement between suction head 24 and feed lever 22. Mounted on suction head 24 and extension member 23 are spring support brackets 29, between which are mounted a suitable compression spring 31. A flanged stem secured to bracket 29 on leg 27 and extending through an aperture in the bracket 29 on extension member 23 permits relative axial movement between suction head 24 and extension 23 to accommodate differences in the positions of the cartons and variations in the sizes of the bottles or cans to be loaded in the carton.

Suction head 24 is provided with a pair of suction cups 26 which communicate through connectors 28 with a source of vacuum pressure (not shown). Suction cups 26 may be metal, or rubber coated metal. Pivotally connected at one end of feed lever 22 'by a pin 32 is a link 30, the other end of which is pivotally connected by pin 34 with a carrier 36. Carrier 36 supports a backing plate 38, the outer surface of which is in alignment with the outer surfaces of suction cups 26 when feed lever 22 is in its loading position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 through 7. Carrier 36 is supported by rollers 40 in a cam track 42 formed in a plate member 44, only a portion of which is shown. As feed lever 22 moves from its loading position of FIG. 1 to its feed position of FIG. 2, carrier 36 and backing plate 38 are moved to the opposite end of cam track 42 due to the connection of link 30 with the carrier and feed lever.

As shown sequentially in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when feed lever 22 moves from its loading position of FIG. 1 to the feed position of FIG. 2, suction cups 26 on suction head 24 engage the exposed portion of the bottom flattened carton C in magazine 14 and upon return movement of the feed lever 22 to the loading position, carton C is carried by the suction head to the position adjacent slot 12,

and backing plate 38 supports the upper end of the flattened carton. Suction head 24 engages the left side of the flattened carton as shown in FIG. 4 near its lower end, and backing plate 38 supports the upper end of the same side of the carton.

When a flattened carton C is carried by suction head 24 to the loading station as shown in FIG. 4, a second suction head 24 is operated to expand the carton. Suction head 24' is identical in construction to suction head 24 and is mounted on the end of parallel bar 46. Bar 46 is pivotally connected with the free ends of a pair of parallel links 48 and 50 by pins 52 and 54, respectively. Parallel links 48 and 50 are secured at their other ends to a pair of parallel, rotatable shafts 56 and 58, respectively, on which are mounted driven gears 60 and 62,

respectively. Gears 60 and 62 are meshed with an oscillating drive gear 64 mounted on a shaft 65. Driven gears 60 and 62 are simultaneously operated by drive gear 64 which oscillates between two extreme positions as shown in FIGS. and 6. In FIG. 5, drive gear 64 actuates links 48 and 50 to move parallel bar 46 inwardly toward backing plate 38 to cause suction head 24' to engage the right side of the flattened carton adjacent the opposite end of the carton from that which is engaged by suction head 24, with suction head 24 in opposed relationship with backing plate 38. Subsequent counterclockwise rotation of the drive gear 64 actuates links 48 and 50 to shift suction head 24' into spaced, opposed relationship with suction head 24 as shown in FIG. 6. The latter movement causes carton C to expand due to the opposed forces of suction heads 24 and 24'.

In the illustrated embodiment, the carton C, when expanded, assumes the form of an-open-ended tubular sleeve or wrapper having spaced side panels, a bottom panel joining the lower ends of the side panels, and a top portion having inclined side portions joining the upper edges of the side panels. The latter shape of carton C is suit- .able for receiving bottles B as shown in FIG. 7, the final bar 46 about the axes of shafts 56 and 58 is transmitted to operating arm 68 by means of a pin 78 projecting from bar 46 into the path of arm 68. As parallel bar 46 moves from the position shown in FIG. 5 to expand the carton, pin 78 engages a notch 80 formed in arm 68 when suction head 24' reaches the position of FIG. 6.

Rack 19v and shaft 65 of drive gear 64 are powered by suitable power mechanism (not shown) in timed sequence with respect to each other to carry out the operations of the machine.

With reference to FIG. 1, a stack of collapsed or flattened cartons C are placed in magazine 14. When the power plant is started into operation, feed lever 22 is caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by shaft 20 from the position of FIG. 1 to the feed position shown in FIG. 2 where suction head 24 engages the lower or right end of the left or bottom side of the exposed flattened carton. Shaft 20 then rotates in a clockwise direc tion from the position of FIG. 2 as shown in FIGS. 3

and 4 to remove the flattened carton from the magazine, and during the travel of suction head 24 from the feed position of FIG. 2 to the loading position of FIG. 4, backing plate 38 moves into engagement with the upper or left end of the left or bottom side of the flattened carton to cooperate with suction head 24 in laterally supporting the carton at the loading station. As soon as feed lever 22 reaches the loading position of FIG. 4, drive gear 64 is rotated in a clockwise direction to cause gears 60 and 62 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and move parallel bar 46 inwardly causing suction head 24 to engage the flattened carton opposite backing plate 38.

Subsequently, drive gear 64 is reversed to change the directions of parallel links 48 and 50 and carry bar 46 to the position shown in FIG. 6 where it is in opposed,

spaced relationship with suction head 24. The latter movement expands the carton to the configuration shown.

As bar 46 approaches the opening position, pin 78 causes bar 70 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and bring carton [former 72 into engagement with the inclined and top portions of the upper panel of the carton to steady and center the upper panel with respect to the side panels. When the carton takes the position shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of bottles B or other articles are inserted into the open-ended carton after which the suction is released from suction heads 24 and 24' and the filled carton C is dropped onto a take-01f conveyer or the like (not shown) beneath the loading station. Simultaneously, drive gear 64 rotates in a clockwise direction to return bar 46 to its position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, and the operation is then repeated.

While I have described and illustrated one embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto, but that I do intend to cover all modifications thereof which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the scope and spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

11. In packaging apparatus having a magazine for containing a stack of flatten-ed cartons each expandable to form an open-minded, sleeve-like wrapper having a pair of spaced, parallel side panels joined at their upper and lower ends by top and bottom panels, respectively;

a first suction head movable between a feed position to engage the flattened carton at the discharge end of the magazine adjacent the lower end of one of the side panels, and a loading position in which it supports the carton at a carton expanding and loading station,

a second suction head mounted for parallel, oscillating movement relative to the position of the first suction head in its loading position between a first position in which it engages the other side panel of the carton adjacent its upper end, and a second position in which it is disposed in spaced, opposed relationship relative to the first suction head,

said first suction head remaining stationary in its loading position during movement of the second suction head from its first to second positions to thereby expand the carton.

2. In packaging apparatus having a magazine for containing a stack of flattened, open-ended cartons,

means defining a carton expanding and loading station,

mechanism for sequentially removing and transferring the flattened cartons from the magazine to the loading station and thereafter expanding the flattened cartons to their erect positions, said mechanism comprising;

a feed lever rotatable between a feed position in which one end thereof is disposed adjacent the discharge end of the magazine, and a loading position in which said one end is disposed adjacent the carton expanding and loading station,

a first suction head mounted on said one end of said feed lever for engaging one side of a collapsed carton near one end thereof at the discharge end of the magazine when the feed lever is in the feed position, and thereafter transferring said collapsed carton to said carton expanding and loading station upon movement of the feed lever from its feed position to its loading position,

a pair of parallel links rotatable about fixed, parallel axes at one of their ends between first and second positions, a

and a second suction head carried by the other end of said parallel links for engaging the collapsed carton at the loading station on the opposite side of the carton from said first suction head adjacent the opposite end thereof when said parallel links are in their first position, and operative thereafter to move into spaced, opposed relationship relative to said first suction head to expand the collapsed carton as said parallel links move from said first to second positions.

3. In packaging apparatus having a magazine for con taining a stack of flattened open-ended cartons,

means defining a carton expanding and loading station,

mechanism for sequentially removing and transferring collapsed cartons from the magazine to the carton expanding and loading station and thereafter expanding the cartons, said mechanism comprising;

a feed lever rotatable between a feed position in which one end thereof is disposed adjacent the magazine, and a loading position in which said one end is disposed adjacent a carton expanding and loading station,

a first suction head carried by said one end of said feed lever for engaging one side of the collapsed carton at the discharge end of the magazine when the feed lever is in its feed position, and thereafter transferring the collapsed carton to the carton expanding and loading station as the feed lever moves from its feed position to its loading position,

a backing plate pivotally connected with said one end of the feed lever for movement between an inoperative position when the feed lever is in its feed position to an operative position in which it supports said one side of the carton adjacent its other end in cooperation with the first suction head when the feed lever is in its loading position,

a pair of parallel links mounted for rotation about parallel axes at one of their ends between first and second positions,

a bar pivotally connected with the other ends of said parallel links,

a second suction head carried by said bar for engaging the other side of the collapsed carton opposite the backing plate when said parallel links are in their first position, and thereafter movable into spaced, opposed relationship with said first suction head as the parallel links move from their first to sec-0nd positions to expand the carton.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 further includa carton top former operable in response to movement of said bar from said first to second positions to engage and support the top panel of the expanded carton at the loading station.

5. In packaging apparatus,

a magazine for containing a stack of flattened, openended cartons,

a partition having an elongated slot formed therein,

mechanism for successively removing and transferring flattened cartons from the magazine to the slot and thereafter expanding the collapsed carton, said mechanism comprising;

a first suction head mounted for oscillation between a first position in which it engages one side of the 6 flattened car-ton at the discharge end of the magazine end thereof, and a second position at which said suction head is exposed at one side of said elongated slot to position the flattened carton adjacent said one side of the slot,

a backing plate carried by said first suction head for engaging said one side of the flattened carton adjacent its other end,

a second suction head mounted for parallel, oscillating movement relative to said first suction head when said first suction head is in its second position between a first position in which it engages the other side of the flattened carton opposite the backing plate and thereafter moves to a second position in opposed spaced relationship relative to said first suction head to expand the carton.

6. In packaging apparatus having a magazine for containing a stack of flattened cartons each expandable to form an open-ended, sleeve-like wrapper having a pair of spaced, parallel side panels joined at their lower ends by a bottom panel and joined at their upper ends by a top panel having inclined portions extending from the upper edges of the side panels,

a first suction head movable between a feed position to engage the flattened carton at the discharge end of the magazine adjacent the lower end of one of the side panels, and a loading position in which it supports the carton at .a carton expanding and loading station,

a second suction head mounted for parallel, oscillating movement relative to the position of the first suction head in its loading position between a first position in which it engages the other side panel of the carton adjacent its upper end, and a second position in which it is disposed in spaced, opposed relationship relative to the first suction head,

said first suction head remaining stationary in its loading position during movement of the second suction head from its first to second position to thereby expand the carton,

and a carton top forming assembly including;

a rotatable shaft disposed perpendicularly with respect to the plane of movement of said suction heads,

an actuating arm fixed to said rotatable shaft and engageable by said second suction head as it moves from its first to sec-0nd positions to cause rotation of said shaft,

and a top former mounted on said rotatable shaft for movement into engagement with the top panel of the carton to receive the inclined portions thereof upon movement of the second suction head from its first to second position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,815 4/1962 Anness et al 93-53 3,038,387 6/1962 Pearson 93-53 X 3,069,979 12/1962 Charles at al 93-53 X 3,217,463 11/1965 Stannard et :al. 93-53 X BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3, 2 3,4 1 September 20, 1966 Franz Dollheimer It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column line 31, for "open-minded" readopen-ended Signed and sealed this 26th day of September 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN PACKAGING APPARATUS HAVING A MAGAZINE FOR CONTAINING A STACK OF FLATTENED CARTONS EACH EXPANDABLE TO FORM AN OPEN-MINDED, SLEEV-LIKE WRAPPER HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED, PARALLEL SIDE PANELS JOINED AT THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS BY TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS, RESPECTIVELY; A FIRST SUCTION HEAD MOVABLE BETWEEN A FEED POSITION TO ENGAGE THE FLATTENED CARTON AT THE DISCHARGE END OF THE MAGAZINE ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF ONE OF THE SIDE PANELS, AND A LOADING POSITIONIN WHICH IT SUPPORTS THE CARTON AT A CARTON EXPANDING AND LOADING STATION, A SECOND SUCTION HEAD MOUNTED FOR PARALLEL, OSCILLATING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE POSITION OF THE FIRST SUCTION HEAD IN ITS LOADING POSITION BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH IT ENGAGES THE OTHER SIDE PANEL OF THE CARTON ADJACENT ITS UPPER END, AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH IT IS DISPOSED IN SPACED, OPPOSED RELATIONSIP RELATIVE TO THE FIRST SUCTION HEAD, SAID FIRST SUCTION HEAD REMAINING STATIONARY IN ITS LOADING POSITION DURING MOVEMENT OF THE SECOND SUCTION HEAD FROM ITS FIRST TO SECOND POSITIONS TO THEREBY EXPAND THE CARTON. 